http://www.intertek.

com/non-destructive-testing/post-weld-heat-treatment/

Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)

Intertek offers post weld heat treatment (PWHT) to improve

weld microstructure and reduce residual stresses developed
during welding.

Intertek specialises in performing PWHT for the steel and metal fabrication industries including
the construction of pressure vessels, pressure piping, storage tanks, buildings, bridges, offshore
platforms, power plants, oil and gas refineries, and petrochemical plants.
There is often a mandatory requirement for PWHT due to compliance with welding codes and
specifications on certain materials including but not limited to carbon steels, stainless/high alloy
steels and work hardened steels. There may also be PWHT requirements based on the wall
thickness of the parts being welded together.
PWHT reduces or redistributes the residual stress introduced by the welding process with a
technique that involves heating, soaking and cooling the weldment/machined surface to
controlled temperatures. This improves the properties of the weldment/machined surface.
Other benefits of PWHT include:

Improved ductility of the material

Improved or reduced hardness

Reduced risk of brittle fracture

Relaxed thermal stress

Tempered metal

Removal of diffusible hydrogen (to prevent hydrogen induced cracking)

Improved metallurgical structure

Intertek can perform PWHT at both our own premises and at our customers sites. Our onsite
facilities include large furnaces where we can place numerous weldments/machined surfaces
for PWHT. In addition, we provide a pick-up and delivery service. Intertek can carry out PWHT at
our customers sites at any offshore and onshore location utilizing our portable equipment.
Our team of highly skilled and trained PWHT technicians ensures that all weldments/machined
surfaces brought in for treatment will meet the specified welding code requirements and be fit
for purpose.
By partnering with Intertek for PWHT, you will also benefit from our global services and
experience. We can provide the non-destructive inspections that are normally required after
PWHT is completed - including hardness testing, magnetic particle inspection and after stress
radiography. Our metallurgical laboratories and experienced engineers with metallurgical
backgrounds add to the wealth of knowledge and expertise needed to execute any critical
PWHT.

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Overview of Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT)

Contribute to Definition

Welding is an essential part of operating and maintaining assets in the

petroleum (upstream, midstream, downstream) and chemical processing
industries. While it has many useful applications, the welding process can
inadvertently weaken equipment by imparting residual stresses into a
material, leading to reduced material properties.

In order to ensure the material strength of a part is retained after

welding, a process known as Post Weld Heat Treatment (PWHT) is
regularly performed. PWHT can be used to reduce residual stresses, as a
method of hardness control, or even to enhance material strength.

If PWHT is performed incorrectly, or neglected altogether, residual

stresses can combine with load stresses to exceed a materials design
limitations. This can lead to weld failures, higher cracking potential, and
increased susceptibility to brittle fracture.

PWHT encompasses many different types of potential treatments; two of

the most common types are post heating and stress relieving:

Post Heating:
 o Hydrogen induced cracking (HIC) often occurs when high
levels of ambient hydrogen permeate into a material during
welding. By heating the material after welding, it is possible to
diffuse hydrogen from the welded area, thus preventing HIC.
This process is known as post heating and should begin
immediately after the weld is completed. Rather than being
allowed to cool, the material needs to be heated to a certain
temperature depending on the type and thickness of the
material. It should be held at this temperature for a number of
hours dependent on the thickness of the material.

Stress Relieving:

o By the time its complete, the welding process can leave a

large number of residual stresses in a material, which can
lead to an increased potential for stress corrosion and
hydrogen induced cracking. PWHT can be used to release
these residual stresses and reduce this potential. This
process involves heating the material to a specific
temperature and then gradually cooling it.

Whether or not a material should undergo PWHT depends on a number of

factors, including things like its alloying system or whether its been
subject to heat treatment previously. Certain materials can actually be
damaged by PWHT, while others almost always require it.

In general, the higher the carbon content of a material, the more likely it
needs PWHT after welding activities have been conducted. Similarly, the
higher the alloy content and cross-sectional thickness, the more likely the
material is to need PWHT.

References

1. Funderburk, R. Scott, 1998. "Key Concepts: Postweld Heat

Treatment." Welding Innovation Vol XV, No. 2.

2. Ahmed Khaleel, Krishan J., 2002. "Post-Weld Heat Treatment Case

Studies," BARC Newsletter, Founder's Day Special Issue, pp 111-115.